Staten Island wins at Little League World Series, beating team from Texas

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Monday, August 20, 2018
Staten Island's Gregory Bruno delivers in the second inning against Houston, Texas in United States pool play at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)-AP

WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania (WABC) -- The team from Staten Island took another big step in the Little League World Series Sunday, defeating their opponents from Houston, Texas, 2-1.

The Mid-Island Little Leaguers, champions of the Mid-Atlantic Region, faced the Southwest champions in pool play in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

They took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning as Steven Martinez drove in the second run with a single.

Texas answered with a run in the 4th, but Staten Island pitcher Gregory Bruno preserved the lead into the 6th inning before Chris Bedford closed out the victory.

The victory puts Staten Island into a winner's bracket game on Wednesday night, with a chance to move on to the U.S. Championship game.

The double-elimination tournament features teams from the United States and eight other countries.

The champion will be decided on Aug. 26.

Staten Island carried a 15-0 record into the Little League World Series and won its first game of the series on Thursday by defeating Des Moines, Iowa.

Some major league players were on hand at the game Sunday, including the New York Mets' Todd Frazier and Michael Conforto, both of whom are alumni of the Little League Baseball World Series.

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